Discovering the joys of Tampa in Florida now that Virgin Atlantic flies directly there from Heathrow

Optimistic hub: Max Davidson travels to Tampa Bay (pictured) on Florida's west coast, which is more accessible than ever now that Virgin Atlantic has launched direct flights from London
Frankly, I was at the end of the learning curve when it came to Tampa. She had heard of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the local football team, but that was it. Most British visitors to Florida head directly to Orlando... Read more

Britain at its best: The joys of delightful Worcestershire river town Upton upon Severn

Slowly it does: Neil Clark travels to Upton upon Severn (pictured), which he says redefines the word 'sexy'
The best of Britain: Old tales and charm abound in the charming riverside town of Upton upon Severn in Worcestershire Neil Clark travels to Upton upon Severn and finds it has ‘splendid’ architecture He says the lack of chain stores... Read more

Fly to France in a private plane – for just £119 return! The joys of a budget jaunt to Le Touquet

Day trip delight: Jonathan Ray and his friend traveled to Le Touquet in France on a flight booked through the Wingly flight sharing platform.  Above are some of the great properties in the French seaside town.
Fly to France on a private plane – for just £119 return! The pleasure of taking a cheap trip to Le Touquet in a Cessna 172 Jonathan Ray flew to Northern France from Surrey’s Redhill Airfield He booked the 45-minute... Read more

The joys of a stay at Le Grand Controle, the astonishing hotel at the Palace of Versailles

Le Grand Controle opened last year by renowned hotel group Airelles. The building that houses it is in the palace grounds. Pictured above is the breathtaking living room
There’s a loud scratching at the door. In normal circumstances in a hotel, not a reassuring noise. But here at hotel Airelles Chateau de Versailles – Le Grand Controle, it’s nothing alarming – merely our butler beginning the royal 7am... Read more

As dreamy as the Maldives… and cheaper than Center Parcs: Discovering the joys of the Seychelles

Dream destination: Siobhan Grogan explores the 'idyllic' islands of the Seychelles archipelago. The palm-tree-fringed sands of Anse Source d’Argent (pictured) on the isle of La Digue are often named the most beautiful in the world, she reveals
Think of a string of idyllic islands scattered like pearls across the glittering Indian Ocean and you’ll almost certainly imagine the Maldives. But head closer to the eastern coast of Africa and the Seychelles archipelago has the same soft sandy... Read more

Where mass tourism is unknown: Discovering the joys of the Greek island of Spetses

Magical: Spetses Island offers 'authenticity, charm, natural beauty and relaxed sophistication', says Teresa Levonian Cole
The church bells ring. Opening the blinds, I shield my eyes from the diamond light that dances in the Saronic Gulf. The talk rises from the gallery below, where breakfast guests at the Poseidonion laugh as a superyacht tries, unsuccessfully,... Read more

Discovering the joys of Scotland's famed Union Canal as it celebrates its 200th anniversary

Serene: Tom Chesshyre explored Scotland's historic Union Canal by boat, sailing from Falkirk to Edinburgh.  In the photo, a section of the canal near the town of Ratho (file photo)
Marking its 200th anniversary this year, the quietly winding Union Canal provides a smooth route for narrow boats to navigate, but there have been rough waters in its history. The canal opened in 1822 and was used to transport coal... Read more

The joys of a showstopping traditional clipper cruise around the great sights of the Mediterranean

The joys of a showstopping traditional clipper cruise around the great sights of the Mediterranean
Talk about making an entrance with style. Sails billowing in the breeze, our tall ship Star Clipper struts like a supermodel as she approaches the glittering playground of the Monte-Carlo Riviera. As we pull into the marina, I am mesmerized... Read more

The joys of Chichester – home to a Roman palace bigger than the Queen's London residence

Although it is a city, Rebecca Ford says that Chichester
The best of Britain: inside the exquisite old town of Chichester, home to a ‘mini Tate’ art gallery, a striking cathedral and a Roman palace larger than the Queen’s London residence Rebecca Ford ventured to Chichester to explore the city... Read more

All aboard for the Broads: The joys of exploring Norfolk's tranquil waterways 

Jo Kessel and her family charter a boat and explore the Norfolk Broads' 200-mile network of seven rivers of calm, navigable waterways.  On their way, they see the 'spectacular' Berney Arms windmill (above, file photo)
Not many holidays require an emergency rescue within the first 24 hours, but our Norfolk Broads boat break is special in many ways. In a minute, we’re crawling into our rented motor cruiser. Moments later… Clunk! Our boat comes to... Read more